I arrived in Grand Rapids around 3 in the afternoon, and Joyce Ondersma (Author Relations) picked me up at the airport. I’d met Joyce last year at ICRS and she’s a wonderful person. She has glorious red hair that I totally envy.

We had dinner with Sue Brower (Senior Editor) and Sherry Guzy (Marketing Director). I also met Marla Bliss and Karwyn Bursma (Marketing Director for Fiction Inspiration) and Joe Questel, who’s part of the Sales department.

We had these Bang-Bang shrimp appetizers that were a blast! (heheh) They were really spicy but really good. I fought Joe for them.

The day at Zondervan was fabulous. First I was shown to a separate “author lounge.” Now isn’t that just way cool? They actually had my name on the door—well, underneath John Ortberg, pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian church (I had gone to Menlo Park Pres a few times when I was in college) who had spoken to the Sales Team that morning.

I spent the morning doing videotaping with Josh Green and Adam Stiestra, who’s the brother of Greg Stieltra (Greg wrote Pyromarketing). They were fun guys! They made the videotaping fun. It went really quickly. I hope I looked okay (wish I could’ve lost another 10 pounds before doing the taping, but oh well).

I also met Becky Shingledecker, who’s my developmental editor. She does figure skating for fun! Isn’t that way cool?

At lunch, I met Bill Oeschler (Executive VP of Marketing) again—I’d sat at his table at the Christy Awards last year. I also met Mark Rice (VP of Book Marketing) and Scott Bolinder (Executive VP of Publishing over books and Bibles).

Sherry was there, as well as Karwyn, Samantha Griggs (National Account Rep for Books a Million, B&N, Borders), and Jaime Seaton (General market sales account manager, Costco SamsClub). Samantha is expecting in a month, and she was at work! Jaime sat next to me and she was a riot (she has a cute pink phone too).

I also met Michelle Langer, who is the brilliant art director who did my book cover!!! Blame that fabulous Memoirs of a Geisha look all to her. I also met Karen Statler, the Editorial Manager who was responsible for getting my book out quickly (see below).

I also had a chance to chat with Karen Campbell again—I met her at ICRS last year, and she’s the Senior Manager of Publicity for all of Zondervan. She’s really excited to push my book!

The Sales Meeting segment went well for me. I had brought chopsticks laser inscribed with my name, tagline (Romance with a kick of wasabi), and website address to give to all the sales people (Sherry left them on each seat).

Dineen Miller had designed bookmarks for me (Dineen is a professional graphic designer, and by the way, D, I got lots of compliments on them) which I also gave out.

Karwyn and Sue and Karen Campbell gave a great presentation, and then Sue introduced me. I stood up there, shaking like crazy and my facial muscles twitching like a rabbit (I’m sure I looked just lovely—not).

And then I noticed the video camera trained on me. Wonderful.

So I was my normal irreverent, flippant, talkative, loud self. Very un-professional. They probably wondered if I was really an author or just some crazed person they brought in off the street.

They didn’t have many questions, but Sue and Scott Bolinder saved my behind by asking questions for me to answer. They laughed at all the places I wanted them to, so I was happy with that.

I met the new CFO, Gary Wicker, who made me feel better that I’m not the only new kid on the block.

Last but certainly not least, I met Doug Lockhart, President and CEO of Zondervan. He’s very nice and very tall. I only babbled a little. He didn’t give me any strange looks so I must have come across as somewhat sane, for a change.

Late in the afternoon, I spend a few hours chatting with Sue and Sherry in Chili’s. It was fun—we got to discussing our respective dogs. Sue just got a new puppy who’s absolutely ADORABLE.

I also have good news—my book is going to be out in time for distribution at ICRS in July! This is thanks to Karen Statler, who pushed to get it out earlier. Official release date is August 1st, and it’ll be in stores September 1st.

So, I’m going to go to ICRS to sign copies! I’m also going to give away more imprinted chopsticks and bookmarks there, too.

Sounds like a great trip, Camy! And I love to hear I am not the only one who is afraid that once I open my mouth, no one is going to take me seriously as a writer. LOL

And that weight thing, ugh, I totally agree. I have to be in front of the camera this weekend and I am dreading it. How shallow of me, I know, but I just can't help it. And I'm sure if I didn't have ten pounds to lose, I'd still obsess over something else. Like my outfit or my shoes.

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